Blotting-pad.



'Unirse stares raffinata' ernten.

WILLIAM F. MAHONY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

BLOTTING-PAD.

Application le. February 27, 1908.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Marroni', a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Blotting-Pads, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to blotting pads of that type which, broadly considered, have long been in use, and which are char-- acterized by two blocks, the outer face of one of which is covered with a blotter strip or sheet, the ends of said sheetbeing clamped between the ends of the opposed blocks, suitable means being provided to detachably secure the blocks together.

It is with the object of improving some of the details of these pads, that I have devised the present construction, in which I have eliminated some of the objectionable features of the existing types, and produced. a compact, readily manipulable and easily adjusted form of pad.

In order that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have illustrated in the drawings herewith one embodiment of my invention, and in said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a blotting pad embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the pad showing the block securing devices in dotted lines; Fig. -S a central longitudinal sectional view of the pad; Fig. l is a central transverse sectional view of the pad.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, 2 and 3 designate the upper and lower blocks, respectively, of the pad, which are identical in size, shape and general conformation, The said blocks 2 and 3 are of segmental shape, and are designed to be assembled, as shown, with their AHat faces opposed, so that the complete pad has au elliptical form, curving alike on top and bottom. Each of the blocks 2 and 3 is beveled along the side edges of the flat face at the middle part thereof, as at 4, so that, when the blocks are assembled, a convenient finger grip is formed on each side of the pad. rIhe top block 2 has a central perforation 5, and surrounding the end of this perforation 5 on the outer curved face of the block is a depressed area or cup G, designed to receive a nut 7, said depressed portion 6 being of such depth that the nut 7 lies wholly within the plane of the block 2 and completely Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 418,027.

housed within the depression 6, so as to give a smooth unobstructed top surface to the blotter, said depression being considerably larger than the nut 7 so that suliicient room is provided for convenient manipulation of said nut by the lingers. rIhe lower block 3 is provided with an upwardly projecting bolt S, placed centrally thereof so as to be in line with and traverse said perforation 5 when the blocks 2 and 3 are assembled, and preferably said bolt has a polygonal head 9 sunk into the outer curved face of the block 3 so as to lie flush therewith, such polygonal nut 9 effectively holding the bolt 8 against rotary movement.

The block 3 may, if desired, have its outer' curved face provided with the usual textile pad 10, and over this the blotter sheetsl will be laid, with their ends between and clamped by the ends of the blocks 2 and 3.

One advantage of the construction which I have invented and disclosed, is, that a pad of symmetrical form is provided, and one which is devoid of projecting knobs or handles on the top surface of the blotter, so that the hand of the user closes upon it in a natural lirrn manner, and an unnatural or constricted position of the fingers is avoided. This full-hand7 grasp, and elimination of finger-gripping projections, I have found to be of great value to those whose duties require them to retain a pad in their hand for a considerable period at one time, as it does away with that cramped condition arising from grasping small projecting handles; and, furthermore, the obvious ease and natural manner with which the pad may be grasped and picked up adds to its value, as compared to those in which it is necessary to locate and grasp a relatively small knob or projection.

Another advantage is that the bolt and nut which bind the parts together are so arranged, according to my invention, that they are manipulated outside the pad and conveniently accessible, and no concealed connections, manipulable only from a sense of feeling, are used. Furthermore, the bolt and nut connection which I have devised reduces the number of parts to a minimum, the whole number of parts being but four, and, when the bolt is set in its block, giving only three pai'ts to be manipulated.

Such slight variations in construction from my disclosure as may be made by the mechanieian I deem to be within the purview of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit my invention to the details of the illustrative embodiment set forth, except so far asv I am limited by the prior art to which the invention belongs.

Having fully disclosed my invention, I claim l. A blotting pad comprising two blocks, one of which has a perforation and a countersunk area on the outer face of the block surrounding said perforation, a bolt carried by the other block and traversing said perforation, a nut engaging said bolt and lying with-in said countersunk area, so as to give a smooth unobstructed top surface to the blotter, and a blotter sheet covering the outer face of the bolt-carrying block with its ends clamped between said blocks.

2. A blotting pad comprising two segmental shaped blocks, one of which has a central perforation and a countersunk finger-receiving area on the outer curved face of said segmental block, surrounding said perforation, a bolt having a polygonal head countersunk in the outer curved face of the other block, a nut engaging said bolt and lying within said countersunk area, and a blotter sheet covering the outer face of the bolt-carrying block with its ends clamped between said blocks.

3. A blotting pad comprising two segmental bloclrs having their flat yfaces op* posed, a bolt carried by one block, a nut to engage said bolt and hold the blocks together, said bolt and nut lying wholly within the plane of said blocks, and a blotter sheet covering the o'uter curved face of the boltcarrying block with its ends clamped between said blocks.

4. A blotting pad comprising two segmental shaped blocks having their flat faces opposed and the edges of said opposed faces beveled to form finger grips when the blocks are assembled, one of said blocks having a central perforation and a countersunk finger-receiving' area in its outer curved face surrounding said perforation, a bolt traversing said perforation and having a polygonal head countersunk in the outer curved face of the other block, a nut to engage said bolt and clamp said blocks together, and a blotter sheet covering the curved outer face of said bolt-carrying block with its ends clamped between said blocks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. MAHONY. lVitnesses ARTHUR Il. BRYANT, A. V. CUSHMAN.

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